verity
Americannoun
plural
verities-
the state or quality of being true; accordance with fact or reality.
to question the verity of a statement.
-
something that is true, as a principle, belief, idea, or statement.
the eternal verities.
noun
-
the quality or state of being true, real, or correct
-
a true principle, statement, idea, etc; a truth or fact
Etymology
Origin of verity
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English, from Latin vēritās, from vēr(us) “true” + -itās -ity
Explanation
If your friend tells you she saw a UFO yesterday afternoon, you might be inclined to question the verity, or truthfulness, of her statement. Everyone knows UFOs are only visible at night. Verity can also be used to mean “a true idea, belief, or statement.” Abstract concepts like love and goodness are often referred to as verities, conveying the idea that they are universal truths. Verity is related to the word verify, meaning “to determine whether something is true." If your friend tells you that UFO story again, you should verify its verity!
Vocabulary lists containing verity
The Tragedy of Macbeth
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"Macbeth" Vocabulary from Act III
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Zaslav sold more than a third of his shares for $113.2 million early this month, leaving him with around 7.2 million shares, according to data from Verity Platform, which tracks insider stakes for investors.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 17, 2026
Since 2020, insiders at 327 of them have spent a collective $3.7 billion on stock purchases of more than $100,000 each, according to data from financial research firm Verity.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 5, 2026
Verity, an irascible but hugely successful aging Hollywood star, alternates narration with his younger best friend Helen in a story involving an aspiring scriptwriter named Phoebe.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 3, 2025
In the end, worried they could no longer keep their daughter safe, Verity and Ian felt they had to force the local authority's hand.
From BBC • Nov. 28, 2025
Verity is successful they’re sending a Lysander for me, at the field I found, on Sunday or Monday—all of it weather permitting and, of course, assuming we can collect the Rosalie.
From "Code Name Verity" by Elizabeth Wein
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
